Tags:

Text Size

-

+

reset

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said Wednesday he’s confident there won’t be any other Democratic Senate retirements in 2010 and dismissed suggestions that the GOP could overtake control of Congress’s upper chamber.

“From my view, at this point in time, that is wishful thinking,” Menendez told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “I just do not see that under any set of circumstances. They’d have to run the table on every open seat that they have. They’d have to defend all of their incumbents and they’d have to pick up 10 seats.”

Menendez argued that Republicans face a challenging map, with six open seats to defend compared with four for the Democrats, and a host of primaries he called “ugly, blood-letting” contests.

Citing races in Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire and Kentucky, Menendez said primary challengers running from the right were already creating problems for establishment favorites.

“Rand Paul is giving Trey Grayson the run for his life,” he added, referring to the Republican primary for Kentucky’s open seat.

And in Illinois, Menendez argued, where Rep. Mark Kirk captured the GOP nomination by 37 points, a conservative challenger with little electoral impact forced the congressman to the right on issues including abortion, climate change and the transfer of Guantanamo detainees.

Democrats face a set of competitive primaries, too, including in Kentucky and Colorado, where Menendez highlighted GOP infighting. The New Jersey senator acknowledged two primary contests in his remarks: in New York, where he suggested former Rep. Harold Ford’s ideological profile could hobble him in a potential challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and in Indiana, where a state committee will choose from a list of candidates to replace retiring Sen. Evan Bayh.

Menendez talked up Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth as a Senate contender, even as Rep. Baron Hill considers a candidacy of his own.

“Ultimately it’s the decision of the state committee of Indiana, but Ellsworth made a very clear distinction. He did not file for the House and is pursuing his race for the Senate and I think that speaks volumes,” said Menendez.

In what’s shaping up to be a challenging environment for Democrats, Menendez stressed the need for his party’s candidates to draw clear contrasts with their opponents, suggesting many Republican recruits could be tarred as consummate D.C. insiders.

“They’re either running lobbyists or people who are long established on the Republican side,” said Menendez. “Look at Arkansas, they came in with [Rep. John] Boozman, who is, at the end of the day, another ultimate Washington insider. I don’t want to be Roy Blunt in Missouri being Tom Delay’s enforcer.”

Kirk, Delaware Rep. Mike Castle and former Ohio Rep. and Bush administration official Rob Portman are also running for open seats with long political records behind them.

Menendez added that Democrats would be pushing Republicans to outline a full agenda of their own: “Republicans would like this election to be an election simply on the president. It won’t be. It’s going to be election against our candidate against their candidate.”

“We will be highlighting that in states like Missouri where Robin Carnahan has been ducking and dodging so often you’d think she’s a carnival worker instead of a candidate for U.S. Senate,” he said.

The NRSC official added, ticking off the names of several Democratic lawmakers running for Senate: “We’ll also be highlighting his comments labeling anyone who has served in Congress as a ‘Washington insider’ because we’d love to hear what Paul Hodes, Charlie Melancon and Kendrick Meek, among other Democrats, think about that term.”

Get alerted every time your favorite reporter posts a story

Like this story? Share it with others

Readers' Comments (2)

Easy to talk confident when it's not your seat up yet Senator, your party is a disgrace to this country with all of its wasteful spending. This congress we have now is the most lame, corrupt group I have ever seen. Senator Lautenberg is in my prayers but if something should happen to him Christie will appoint a republican. And when your seat comes up for re-election you too will be standing on the unemployment line.

Rand Paul isn't giving Trey Grayson "the run of his life", he has administered a complete beat down, and is leading by 15-20 points. I'm betting that in 3 months, Grayson goes back to the Democrat party.